Pardon of our sins renew,
Teach us henceforth how to live
With eternity in view.
Bless Thy Word to young and old,
Fill us with a Savior’s love;
And when life’s short tale is told,
May we dwell with Thee above.
John Newton, 1774.
164
8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7 (Iambic)
Across the sky the shades of night
This winter’s eve are fleeting;
We deck Thine altar, Lord, with light,
In solemn worship meeting;
And as the year’s last hours go by,
We raise to Thee our earnest cry,
Once more Thy love entreating.
2. Before the cross subdued we bow,
To Thee our prayers addressing,
Recounting all Thy mercies now,
And all our sins confessing;
Beseeching Thee this coming year
To keep us in Thy faith and fear
And crown us with Thy blessing.
3. And while we pray, we lift our eyes
To dear ones gone before us,
Safe home with Thee in Paradise,
Whose peace descendeth o’er us;
And beg of Thee, when life is past
To reunite us all at last
With those who’ve gone before us.
4. We gather up, in this brief hour,
The memory of Thy mercies:
Thy wondrous goodness, love, and power
Our grateful song rehearses:
For Thou hast been our Strength and Stay
In many a dark and dreary day
Of sorrows and reverses.
5. In many an hour, when fear and dread,
Like evil spells, have bound us
And clouds were gathering overhead,
Thy providence hath found us.
In many a night, when seas ran high,
Thy gracious presence, drawing nigh,
Hath made all calm around us.
6. Then, O great God, in years to come,
Whatever may betide us,
Right onward through our journey home
Be Thou at hand to guide us;
Nor leave us till, at close of life,
Safe from all perils, toil, and strife.
Heaven shall enfold and hide us.
James Hamilton, 1882.
165
7s
Thou who roll’st the year around,
Crowned with mercies large and free,
Rich Thy gifts to us abound,
Warm our praise shall rise to Thee.
2. Kindly to our worship bow,
While our grateful thanks we tell,
That, sustained by Thee, we now
Bid the parting year farewell!
3. All its numbered days are sped,
All its busy scenes are o’er,
All its joys forever fled,
All its sorrows felt no more.
4. Mingled with th’ eternal past,
Its remembrance shall decay,
Yet to be revived at last
At the solemn Judgment Day.
5. All our follies, Lord, forgive!
Cleanse us from each guilty stain;
Let Thy grace within us live
That we spend not years in vain.
6. Then, when life’s last eve shall come,
Happy spirits, may we fly
To our everlasting home,
To our Father’s house on high!
Ray Palmer, 1858.
NEW YEAR.
166
7, 5, 8 l
Father, let me dedicate
All this year to Thee,
In whatever earthly state
Thou wilt have me be.
Not from sorrow, pain, or care,
Freedom dare I claim;
This alone shall be my prayer:
Glorify Thy name.
2. Can a child presume to choose
Where or how to live?
Can a Father’s love refuse
All the best to give?
More Thou givest every day
Than the best can claim,
Nor withholdest aught that may
Glorify Thy name.
3. If in mercy Thou wilt spare
Joys that yet are mine;
If on life, serene and fair,
Brighter rays may shine,
Let my glad heart, while it sings,
Thee in all proclaim,
And, whate’er the future brings,
Glorify Thy name.
4. If Thou callest to the cross
And its shadow come,
Turning all my gain to loss,
Shrouding heart and home,
Let me think how Thy dear Son
To His glory came
And in deepest woe pray on:
“Glorify Thy name.”
L. Tuttiett, 1825.
167
L. M.
Great God, we sing that mighty Hand
By which supported still we stand;
The opening year Thy mercy shows;
Let mercy crown it till it close.
2. By day, by night, at home, abroad,
Still we are guarded by our God,
By His incessant bounty fed,
By His unerring counsel led.
3. With grateful hearts the past we own;
The future, all to us unknown,
We to Thy guardian care commit
And, peaceful, leave before Thy feet.
4. In scenes exalted or depressed
Be Thou our Joy and Thou our Rest;
Thy goodness all our hopes shall raise,
Adored through all our changing days.
5. When death shall interrupt our songs
And seal in silence mortal tongues,
Our Helper, God, in whom we trust,
In better worlds our soul shall boast.
Philip Doddridge, 1755.
168
7s
For Thy mercy and Thy grace,
Constant through another year,
Hear our song of thankfulness;
Jesus, our Redeemer, hear!
2. Lo! our sins on Thee we cast,
Thee, our perfect Sacrifice,
And, forgetting all the past,
Press unto our glorious prize.
3. Dark the future; let Thy light
Guide us, bright and Morning Star:
Fierce our foes and hard the fight;
Arm us, Savior, for the war.
4. In our weakness and distress,
Rock of strength, be Thou our Stay;
In the pathless wilderness
Be our true and living Way.
5. Who of us death’s awful road
In the coming year shall tread?
With Thy rod and staff, O God,
Comfort Thou his dying bed.
6. Keep us faithful, keep us pure,
Keep us evermore Thine own;
Help, O help us to endure;
Fit us for the promised crown.
7. So within Thy palace gate
We shall praise, on golden strings,
Thee the only Potentate,
Lord of lords and King of kings.
H. Downton, 1841, a.
169
L. M.
The new-born Child this early morn,
The dear Christ-child, of virgin born,
Again brings from His heavenly home
A new year to all Christendom.
2. This causes joy to angels fair,
Who love to keep us in their care;
They sing that in this wondrous Child
God now with man is reconciled.
3. Since God is reconciled with men,
What harm can Satan do us, then?
O’er Satan and the gates of hell
This Christ-child shall for us prevail.
4. He brings the year of jubilee!
Why doubt we yet despondently?
Rejoice! This is a happy day;
The Christ-child drives all care away.
C. Schneegass, † 1597; E. Cronenwett, tr., a.
170
8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7
O Lord, our Father, thanks to Thee
In this new year we render,
For Thou hast been from misery
And dangers our Defender;
Through all the year that now has fled
Hast given us life and daily bread
And peace within our borders.
2. Lord Jesus Christ, our thanks to Thee
In this new year we render,
For Thou still rulest zealously
Thy fold, with mercy tender;
Thou hast redeemed us with Thy blood,
Thou art our only Trust and Good,
In life and death our Savior.
3. Lord Holy Ghost, our thanks to Thee
In this new year we render,
For by Thy grace it is that we
Enjoy Thy Word’s pure splendor;
Thus Thou hast kindled from above
Within our hearts true faith and love
And other Christian virtues.
4. Our faithful God, we cry to Thee:
Still bless us with Thy favor,
Blot out all our iniquity,
And hide our sins forever;
Grant us a happy, good New Year
And, when the hour of death draws near,
A blest departure. Amen.
C. Schneegass, † 1597; A. Crull, tr.
171
9, 8, 9, 8, 8, 8
Help me, O Lord! Behold, I enter
Upon another year to-day;
In Thee my hopes and thoughts now center,
Renew my courage for the way:
New life, new strength, new happiness
I ask of Thee, O hear and bless!
2. May every plan and undertaking
This year be all begun with Thee;
When I am sleeping or am waking,
Still let me know Thou art with me;
Abroad do Thou my footsteps guide,
At home be ever at my side.
3. Be this a time of grace and pardon;
Thy rod I take with willing mind,
But suffer naught my heart to harden;
O let me now Thy mercy find;
In Thee alone, my God, I live,
Thou only canst my sins forgive.
4. And may this year to me be holy;
Thy grace so fill my every thought
That all my life be pure and lowly
And truthful as a Christian’s ought;
So make me, while yet dwelling here,
Pious and blest from year to year.
5. And grant, Lord, when the year is over,
That it for me in peace may close;
In all things care for me and cover
My head in time of fear and woes;
So may I, when my years are gone,
Appear with joy before Thy throne.
J. Rist, 1642; C. Winkworth, tr.
172
C. M.
O God, our Help in ages past,
Our Hope for years to come,
Our Shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal Home!
2. Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.
3. Before the hills in order stood
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.
4. A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.
5. Thy word commands our flesh to dust:
“Return, ye sons of men!”
All nations rose from earth at first
And turn to earth again.
6. Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.
7. Like flowery fields the nations stand,
Pleased with the morning light;
The flowers beneath the mower’s hand
Lie withering ere ’tis night.
8. O God, our Help in ages past,
Our Hope for years to come,
Be Thou our Guard while troubles last
And our eternal Home.
Isaac Watts, 1719.
173
L. M.
The old year now hath passed away,
We thank Thee, Christ, our Lord, to-day
That Thou hast kept us through the year
When danger and distress were near.
2. We pray Thee, O eternal Son,
Who with the Father reign’st as one,
To guard and rule Thy Christendom
Through all the ages yet to come.
3. Take not Thy saving Word away,
Our souls’ true comfort, staff, and stay;
Abide with us and keep us free
From all false doctrines graciously.
4. O help us to forsake all sin,
A new and holier course begin;
From last year’s sins, Lord, hide Thy face,
In this new year grant us Thy grace,
5. That as true Christians we may live
Or die in peace that Thou wilt give,
To rise again when Thou shalt come,
And enter our eternal home.
J. Steuerlein, 1588; C. Winkworth, tr., a.
174
7s
Now let us come before Him,
With songs and prayers adore Him,
Who to our life from heaven
All needed strength hath given.
2. The stream of years is flowing,
And we are onward going,
From old to new surviving,
And by His mercy thriving.
3. In woe we often languish
And pass through times of anguish,
Of wars and trepidation,
Alarming every nation.
4. A faithful mother keepeth
Guard while her infant sleepeth,
Its fear and grief assuaging
When angry storms are raging.
5. Thus God His children shieldeth
And full protection yieldeth;
When need and woe distress them,
His loving arms caress them.
6. In vain is all our doing;
The labor we’re pursuing
In our hands prospers never
Unless God watches ever.
7. Our song to Thee ascendeth,
Whose mercy never endeth;
Our thanks to Thee we render,
Who art our strong Defender.
8. O God of mercy, hear us;
Our Father, be Thou near us;
Mid crosses and in sadness
Be Thou our Fount of gladness.
9. To all that bow before Thee
And for Thy grace implore Thee,
O grant Thy benediction
And patience in affliction.
10. With richest blessings crown us.
In all our ways, Lord, own us;
Give grace, who grace bestowest
To all, e’en to the lowest.
11. To all forlorn be Father,
Thy erring children gather,
And of the poor and needy
Be Thou the Helper speedy.
12. Grant help to all afflicted;
And to the souls dejected,
By melancholy haunted,
May cheerful thoughts be granted!
13. O Lord, assistance lend us,
Thy Holy Spirit send us
That He may make us glorious
And lead to Thee victorious.
14. All this Thy hand bestoweth,
Thou Life, whence our life floweth;
To me and all believers
Grant, Lord, these New Year’s favors.
Paul Gerhardt, † 1676; J. Kelly, tr., a.
CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST.
175
S. M.
The year begins with Thee,
And Thou begin’st with woe
To let the world of sinners see
That blood for sin must flow.
2. Thine infant cries, O Lord,
Thy tears upon the breast
Are not enough; the legal sword
Must do its stern behest.
3. Seemeth it strange to me
My own will to deny?
Seemeth it sad, my soul, to thee
Under the yoke to lie?
4. I look, and hold my peace:
The Giver of all good
E’en from His birth takes no release
From suffering, tears, and blood.
5. That I may reap in love,
Help me to sow in fear;
So life a winter’s morn may prove
To a bright endless year.
J. Keble, 1827, a.
176
S. M.
The ancient Law departs,
And all its terrors cease;
For Jesus makes with faithful hearts
A covenant of peace.
2. The Light of light divine,
True brightness undefiled,
He bears for us the shame of sin,
A holy, spotless Child.
3. His infant body now
Begins our pain to feel;
Those precious drops of blood that flow
For death the victim seal.
4. To-day the name is Thine
At which we bend the knee.
They call Thee Jesus, Child Divine;
Our Jesus deign to be.
5. All praise, eternal Son,
For Thy redeeming love,
With Father, Spirit, ever one,
In glorious might above.
Abbé Besnault, 1736.
177
L. M.
O sacred day, when first was poured
The blood of our redeeming Lord!
O solemn day, when first began
His sufferings for sinful man!
2. Just born into this world of woe,
His blood for man was made to flow.
His future death was thus expressed;
Thus, too, His early love confessed.
3. From heaven descending to fulfil
The mandates of His Father’s will,
E’en now behold the Victim lie,
The Lamb of God, prepared to die.
4. Beneath the knife behold the Child,
The Innocent, the Undefiled;
For captives He the ransom pays,
For lawless man the Law obeys.
5. Lord, circumcise our hearts, we pray,
Our fleshly natures purge away;
Thy name, Thy likeness, may we bear;
O stamp Thy holy image there.
Abbé Besnault, 1736; J. Chandler, tr., a.
178
7s
Jesus! Name of wondrous love,
Name all other names above,
Unto which must every knee
Bow in deep humility.
2. Jesus! Name decreed of old,
To the maiden mother told,
Kneeling in her lowly cell,
By the angel Gabriel.
3. Jesus! Name of priceless worth
To the fallen sons of earth,
For the promise that it gave,—
“Jesus shall His people save.”
4. Jesus! Name of mercy mild,
Given to the holy Child
When the cup of human woe
First He tasted here below.
5. Jesus! Only name that’s given
Under all the mighty heaven
Whereby man, to sin enslaved,
Bursts his fetters and is saved.
6. Jesus! Name of wondrous love,
Human name of God above.
Pleading only this, we flee,
Helpless, O our God, to Thee.
W. W. How, 1854, a.
EPIPHANY.
179
7, 6, 8 l
O Jesus, King of Glory!
Both David’s Lord and Son!
Thy realm endures forever,
In heaven is fixed Thy throne;
Help that in earth’s dominions,
Throughout from pole to pole,
Thy realm may spread salvation
To each benighted soul!
2. The Eastern sages, bringing
Their tribute-gifts to Thee,
Bear witness to Thy kingdom
And humbly bow the knee.
To Thee the star is pointing,
To Thee, Incarnate Word;
Hence joyously we hail Thee:
Our Savior and our Lord!
3. Thou art a mighty Monarch,
As by the Word we’re told,
Yet carest Thou but little
For earthly goods or gold;
On no proud steed Thou ridest,
Thou wear’st no jeweled crown,
Nor dwell’st in lordly castle,
But bearest scoff and frown.
4. Yet art Thou decked with beauty,
With rays of glorious light;
Thou ever teem’st with goodness,
And all Thy ways are right.
Vouchsafe to shield Thy people
With Thine almighty arm
That they may dwell in safety
From those who mean them harm.
5. Ah, look on me with pity,
Though I am weak and poor,
Admit me to Thy kingdom,
To dwell there, blest and sure!
I pray Thee, guide and keep me
Safe from my bitter foes,
From sin and death and Satan;
Free me from all my woes.
6. And bid Thy Word within me
Shine as the fairest star;
Keep sin and all false doctrine
Forever from me far.
Help me confess Thee truly
And with Thy Christendom
Here own Thee King and Savior
And in the world to come.
Martin Behm, 1606.
180
L. M.
The Star proclaims the King is here;
But, Herod, why this senseless fear?
He takes no realms of earth away
Who gives the realms of heavenly day.
2. The wiser Magi see from far
And follow on His guiding star;
And led by light to light they press
And by their gifts their God confess.
3. Within the Jordan’s crystal flood
In meekness stands the Lamb of God
And, sinless, sanctifies the wave,
Mankind from sin to cleanse and save.
4. At Cana first His power is shown;
His might the blushing waters own
And, changing, as He speaks the word,
Flow wine, obedient to their Lord.
5. All glory, Jesus, be to Thee
For this Thy glad Epiphany;
Whom with the Father we adore
And Holy Ghost forevermore.
From the Latin of Sedulius, 5th cent.; J. N. Neale, tr. 1852, a.
181
11, 10, 11, 10
Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid;
Star of the East, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
2. Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining;
Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall:
Angels adore Him in slumber reclining,
Maker and Monarch and Savior of all!
3. Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion,
Odors of Edom and offerings divine,
Gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine?
4. Vainly we offer each ample oblation;
Vainly with gifts would His favor secure.
Richer by far is the heart’s adoration;
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.
5. Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid;
Star of the East, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
Reginald Heber, 1811.
182
8, 7, 8 l
Hail, Thou Source of every blessing,
Sovereign Father of mankind!
Gentiles now, Thy grace possessing,
In Thy courts admission find.
Grateful now we fall before Thee,
In Thy Church obtain a place;
Now by faith behold Thy glory,
Praise Thy truth, adore Thy grace.
2. Once far off, but now invited,
We approach Thy sacred throne;
In Thy covenant united,
Reconciled, redeemed, made one.
Now revealed to Eastern sages,
See the star of mercy shine;
Mystery hid in former ages,
Mystery great of love divine.
3. Hail, Thou all-inviting Savior!
Gentiles now their offerings bring;
In Thy temple seek Thy favor.
Jesus Christ, our Lord and King.
May we, body, soul, and spirit,
Live devoted to Thy praise,
Glorious realms of bliss inherit,
Grateful anthems ever raise!
Basil Wood, 1813.
183
7s 6 l
As with gladness men of old
Did the guiding star behold,
As with joy they hailed its light,
Leading onward, beaming bright,
So, most gracious Lord, may we
Evermore be led by Thee.
2. As with joyful steps they sped
To that lowly manger-bed.
There to bend the knee before
Him whom heaven and earth adore,
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek Thy mercy-seat.
3. As they offered gifts most rare
At that manger rude and bare,
So may we with holy joy,
Pure and free from sin’s alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King.
4. Holy Jesus, every day
Keep us in the narrow way;
And when earthly things are past,
Bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they need no star to guide,
Where no clouds Thy glory hide.
5. In the heavenly country bright
Need they no created light;
Thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown,
Thou its Sun which goes not down;
There forever may we sing
Alleluias to our King!
W. C. Dix, 1860.
184
7s 8 l
Songs of thankfulness and praise,
Jesus, Lord, to Thee we raise,
Manifested by the star
To the sages from afar,
Branch of royal David’s stem,
In Thy birth at Bethlehem.
Anthems be to Thee addressed,
God in man made manifest.
2. Manifest at Jordan’s stream,
Prophet, Priest, and King supreme,
And at Cana, wedding-guest,
In Thy Godhead manifest;
Manifest in power divine,
Changing water into wine.
Anthems be to Thee addressed,
God in man made manifest.
3. Manifest in making whole
Palsied limbs and fainting soul;
Manifest in valiant fight,
Quelling all the devil’s might;
Manifest in gracious will,
Ever bringing good from ill.
Anthems be to Thee addressed,
God in man made manifest.
4. Sun and moon shall darkened be,
Stars shall fall, the heavens shall flee;
Christ will then like lightning shine,
All will see His glorious sign;
All will then the trumpet hear,
All will see the Judge appear;
Thou by all wilt be confessed,
God in man made manifest.
5. Grant us grace to see Thee, Lord,
Present in Thy holy Word;
May we imitate Thee now
And be pure as pure art Thou,
That we like to Thee may be
At Thy great Epiphany
And may praise Thee, ever blest,
God in man made manifest.
C. Wordsworth, 1862.
PRESENTATION OF CHRIST.
185
8, 5, 8, 4, 7, 7
In peace and joy I now depart
At God’s disposing;
For full of comfort is my heart,
Soft reposing.
So the Lord hath promised me,
And death is but a slumber.
2. ’Tis Christ that wrought this work for me.
The faithful Savior,
Whom Thou hast made mine eyes to see
By Thy favor.
Now I know He is my Life,
My Help in need and dying.
3. Him Thou hast unto all set forth
Their great Salvation,
And to His kingdom called the earth,
Every nation,
By Thy dear and wholesome Word,
In every place resounding.
4. He is the Hope and saving Light
Of lands benighted;
By Him are they who dwelt in night
Fed and lighted;
He is Israel’s Praise and Bliss,
Their Joy, Reward, and Glory.
Martin Luther, 1524; L. W. Bacon, tr., a.
186
8, 7, 6 l
In His Temple now behold Him,
See the long-expected Lord;
Ancient prophets had foretold Him,
God has now fulfilled His word.
Now to praise Him, His redeemed
Shall break forth with one accord.
2. In the arms of her who bore Him,
Virgin pure, behold Him lie,
While His aged saints adore Him
Ere in faith and hope they die.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Lo, th’ incarnate God most high.
3. Jesus, by Thy presentation,
Thou, who didst for us endure,
Make us see our great salvation,
Seal us with Thy promise sure,
And present us in Thy glory
To Thy Father, cleansed and pure.
H. J. Pye, 1853.
187
8, 7, 6 l
Angels, from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story,
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
Come and worship,
Come and worship;
Worship Christ, the new-born King.
2. Shepherds, in the fields abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing,
Yonder shines the heav’nly Light:
Come and worship,
Come and worship;
Worship Christ, the new-born King.
3. Sages, leave your contemplations;
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great Desire of nations,
Ye have seen His natal star:
Come and worship,
Come and worship;
Worship Christ, the new-born King.
4. Saints, before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord descending,
In His temple shall appear:
Come and worship,
Come and worship;
Worship Christ, the new-born King.
James Montgomery, 1816, a.
188
L. M.
O dearest Jesus, Thee I pray:
Within my heart now make Thy stay,
That I, like Simeon of old,
By faith may gladly Thee enfold.
2. Thou art my Life and Happiness,
Whom God hath sent my soul to bless;
O cleanse and purify my heart
That from Thy paths I ne’er depart.
3. Lord, with Thy light show me the way
That never I may go astray;
Ward off all sorrow and despair
And let me be Thine own fore’er.
4. Lift up Thy face upon me, Lord,
In life and death Thy help afford;
Then I’ll depart most cheerfully
This life whene’er it pleaseth Thee.
John Mylius, 1596; A. Crull, tr.
189
8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7 (Iambic)
Thank God! my Jesus cleanseth me
From all sins I committed;
He paid my debt and set me free,
I, therefore, am acquitted
Of sin’s and Satan’s bondage fell.
My faith now laughs at death and hell,
Because my life is Jesus.
2. Why should I grieve? He who fulfilled
The Law, thus to release us,
He who His Father’s wrath has stilled
By His own death, this Jesus
Still liveth, and all that He hath
He giveth unto me through faith;
Is there a greater treasure?
3. Because my Jesus cleanseth me
From sin by His own merit,
I am from pain and fear set free,
Death cannot daunt my spirit;
I trust in Jesus’ righteousness,
His innocence and blessedness
Are now my life and treasure.
4. Now I, like Simeon, can end
My life in peace and gladness,
And to my God I can commend
My spirit without sadness;
For when my weary eyes I close,
My death becomes a sweet repose,
I see the joys of heaven.
5. How happy, therefore, shall I be
When life’s frail thread is broken;
When holy angels carry me
To joys that ne’er were spoken;
When I behold Him face to face,
When I have gained that blessed place,
Prepared for me by Jesus.
6. Lord, grant that e’er prepared I be,
That naught from Thee me sever.
And when I die, let me with Thee
In glory live forever;
Come quickly to deliver me,
Lord, by Thy death and agony.
Yea, come, Lord Jesus! Amen.
J. Olearius, 1671; A. Crull, tr.
190
7, 6, 8 l
Light of the Gentile nations,
Thy people’s Joy and Love!
Drawn by Thy Spirit hither,
We gladly come to prove
Thy presence in Thy temple
And seek with earnest mind,
As Simeon once had waited
His Savior God to find.
2. Yea, Lord, Thy servants meet Thee,
E’en now, in every place
Where Thy true Word hath promised
That they should see Thy face.
Thou yet wilt gladly grant us,
Who gather round Thee here,
In faith’s strong arms to bear Thee,
As did that aged seer.
3. Be Thou our Joy, our Brightness,
That shines mid pain and loss,
Our Sun in times of terror,
The Glory round our cross;
A Glow in sinking spirits,
A Sunbeam in distress,
Physician, Friend, in sickness;
In death, our Happiness.